A Fresh Start

Work As Usual

Nick rolled out from the warm covers of his bed. He groaned as weak sunlight filtered through the dull curtains draping over the window. The fox turned to the digital alarm clock sitting on his bedside table. It read; 5:28, in large red numbers. Nick's eyes widened in alarm. "Oh no! I can't be late again! Stupid clock!" he gasped, bringing a fist down on his useless alarm clock in annoyance. Nick flew out of bed and dashed across the room towards his closet. He grabbed his police uniform and quickly dressed himself. He patted his fur down in an attempt to neaten it and loosely put on his tie. Nick then raced towards the kitchen and grabbed himself a half empty punnet of blueberries which his crime fighting partner Judy had brought him from her families farm. He hastily gulped down a handful, washed his hands and grabbed his keys. In his hurry, the fox almost left his house without his phone, but the second before he slammed shut the door, he felt his pocket for the device and realised he had not brought it with him. Nick ducked back through the door swiping the phone from the bench and locked up the house. His private police vehicle beeped as he pushed the unlock button on his keys. Nick hoped he would not be too late as he rushed to work, for he knew Judy would throw a fit. It would be the third time this week that he had been late to work. Nick realised that Judy wasn't the only one who would have his head for being late again but so would chief Bogo. He groaned inwardly at the thought of facing the two angry animals. Nick knew he had to step up his game and 'take his job more seriously' as Judy would say. The fox reminded himself to make a mental note to purchase a new alarm clock, one that actually worked on a regular basis. He was two blocks away as Nick felt his phone vibrate in his pocket. He knew it would be Judy demanding an explanation as to why he was not yet at work. He ignored the call. He would face her fury when he arrived. Buzz Buzz, Buzz, Buzz. His mobile kept on vibrating. Buzz Buzz, Buzz Buzz. That rabbit doesn't know when to quit! He thought, shaking his head, half irritated and half amused. Nick turned on the radio, drowning out the endless buzzing sound and tapped his paws on the steering wheel to the beat of Gazelle's hit song 'Try Everything', which he had begun to secretly enjoy after hearing each time he and Judy drove together, which happened frequently.

Nick stifled a yawn as he walked through the doors of the police station. He turned towards Benjamin Clawhauser who was typing away at his keyboard at the front desk. "Hey!" he greeted the chubby cheetah. Clawhauser looked up from his keyboard and smiled. "Oh, hi Nick!" he grinned, overly happy as usual. The charming fox smiled back and walked towards the meeting room where chief Bogo gave him a long hard stare as he sat in the empty seat next to Judy. "Glad you could finally make it, Wilde" Bogo quipped. Nick raised one eyebrow. "I'm sure you are. This place would be a wreck without me!" he smirked. Following that, he felt his lupin partner give him a soft punch in the side. The chief frowned with hostility. "Why are you late anyway?" the buffalo pried. Nick felt the collar on his shirt tighten. He quickly had to make up a good excuse he hadn't already used. "Uuurr, well...you see..." he stalled. Bogo interrupted him, "Never mind, I don't care. Just don't let it happen again" he commanded sternly. The fox nodded, "Sure thing boss." At that Bogo turned to the crowd and gave out the day's duties. As usual, he ended with Nick and Judy. "Hopps, Wilde. We have another missing mammals case." Nick perked up. A real job! After the initial excitement of the Night Howler case, all the other cases had seemed slightly dull. The two had been assigned to smaller cases such as petty theft and domestic disputes. The only larger case they had been put only lately was a the robbery of a jewellery store, which the pair had solved with ease. Judy saluted the chief. "We wont let you down sir!" she spoke determinedly. Bogo nodded. "See that you don't." He handed Judy the case file. "Dismissed!" The fox and the bunny scooted out the door, down the hall and into their personal office. Judy turned to Nick with her large violet eyes. "Ready Nick?" The vulpine gave her his signature smirk and held his usual half lidded gaze. His tail wagged slightly with excitement, betraying his otherwise cool demeanour. "Ready as ever, Carrots!"